Pumpkin seeds are the edible seeds of various plant species of the cucurbit family.

Natural pumpkin seeds: properties and benefits

Pumpkin seeds have always been appreciated for their deworming and anti-inflammatory properties, they have been used in traditional Chinese medicine since the 17th century. The worming abilities are due to the presence of a non-protein amino acid called cucurbitin. The anti-inflammatory properties, useful for example in the case of cystitis, are instead due to linolenic acid. From a nutritional point of view they are quite caloric but less than other nuts. The content of vitamins of group B is good, in particular that of Niacin (B3) which is 4.43 mg per 100 grams of product, about a quarter of the daily requirement for an adult man.

Botanical notes

From the botanical point of view the term pumpkin has no meaning, however the pumpkins used in the kitchen are all part of the cucurbit family. Cucurbits are both trees and herbaceous plants, but the species that produce the fruits used in cooking are all herbaceous. Pumpkin is also called winter squash due to its late ripening and the ability to keep it for most of the winter, which distinguishes it, for example, from courgettes that belong to the same family. In Italy we grow many native varieties, belonging to the species: Cucurbita maxima (large and rounded) and Cucurbita moschata (elongated). Recall that within the same species there may be many variants selected by man with a very different appearance. The seeds of all varieties are edible
A curiosity: courgettes are also called summer squash, in fact they belong to the same botanical family but to a different species cucurbita pepo, there is a variety called cucurbita pepo styrian from which an oil is extracted of pumpkin seeds much appreciated in the kitchen in the traditions of other countries, The characteristic of these pumpkin seeds is to have a shell so soft that it is not necessary to peel them to eat them,

Using natural pumpkin seeds in the kitchen

If it is true that nothing is thrown away from pumpkins, fruit, flower, seed, everything is eaten. The latter, the seed, is seen more as a snack to be consumed alone than an ingredient, but if you look carefully for some use in the kitchen you will find it. Above all fresh and delicious salads, excellent for a vegan diet, but this time we have chosen a recipe that could cause a sensation even among people accustomed to other types of flavors despite being strictly composed of only vegetable ingredients.

Baked pumpkin with pumpkin seeds and almonds

Ingredients

  • Mantuan pumpkin 1,5 kg
  • Flaked almonds 20 gr
  • Pumpkin seeds 20 gr
  • Extra virgin olive oil 40 gr
  • Rosemary 1 sprig
  • Smoked paprika to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • For the flavored oil
  • Extra virgin olive oil 100 gr
  • Sage a few leaves
  • Parsley 1 tuft

Preparation

1) Wash the pumpkin because it will go with all the peel.

2) Remove the seeds by digging with a spoon.

3) Slice until you get 8 slices (an easy way to get equal slices is to divide each piece in half and then again in half and so on).

4) Grease a dripping pan with part of the dose of oil.

5) Arrange the pumpkin slices, then sprinkle the surface with the remaining oil and turn the slices to grease them evenly.

6) Remove the rosemary needles and chop them finely with a knife.

7) Season the pumpkin with a pinch of salt and a sprinkle of pepper, then flavor with the chopped rosemary, paprika and finally the pumpkin seeds and sliced ​​almonds.

8) Bake in a preheated oven, in static mode at 180 ° for 40-45 minutes.

9) While the pumpkin is cooking you can take care of the flavored oil.

Preparation of the flavored oil:

10) Chop some sage leaves with a knife and then do the same with the sprig of parsleyonly

11) Collect everything in a bowl and pour in the oil, mix well.

12) When the pumpkin is cooked, sprinkle the pumpkin slices with the flavored oil.

Recipe source: recipes.giallozafferano.it

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Data sheet

Carboidrati di cui zuccheri
Carboidrati
Fibre
Grassi
Sale
Proteine
Saturi
Valore energetico (calorie)
643 Kcal
Provenienza
Europa

Specific References

EAN13
8056479084654
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